New Delhi: During Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India, both nations are expected to deliberate on the development of advanced variants of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, a key component of India’s defence capabilities.
The BrahMos missile has long symbolized successful Indo-Russian defence cooperation, proving its strategic value during operations such as Operation Sindoor. Indian defence authorities are prioritizing the development of lighter variants, including the BrahMos-NG (Next Generation), designed for integration with all Indian Air Force fighter aircraft, offering enhanced manoeuvrability and the ability to strike targets beyond 400 kilometres.
In addition to lighter variants, discussions may cover longer-range BrahMos missiles, extending the strike envelope to over three times the current range. These improvements would enable deep penetration missions while maintaining supersonic speed and precision.
Preparations for President Putin’s visit also indicate potential cooperation in hypersonic missile development and air-to-air missile systems with extended range, aiming to further enhance India’s aerial combat capabilities.
India is simultaneously advancing its air defence portfolio, with the acquisition of 280 S-400 Triumf missiles (Sudarshan Chakra) to strengthen aerial threat response. The BrahMos missile continues to play a pivotal role across all service branches, and successful exports to countries like the Philippines highlight India’s growing position as a global defence technology provider.
The Indo-Russian dialogue is expected to reinforce missile technology cooperation, combining lighter, longer-range BrahMos variants with hypersonic and advanced air-to-air systems, further bolstering India’s strategic deterrence and operational readiness.
